Attendees to Thursday's event at the EA Rawlinson Centre look over the concept plans. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Supportive communities

Design plans unveiled for new Ronald McDonald House in Prince Albert

Jun 28, 2024 | 2:20 PM

A spacious 12-room Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Prince Albert will include a large kitchen area, rooms for gaming and fitness, and when families need some fresh air, they can tour the various walking paths.

Those were some of the design plans unveiled on Thursday, during a special event at Prince Albert’s E.A. Rawlinson Centre. Jason Hurd with AODBT Architecture and Interior Design is the lead architect and explained for the large crowd that their mandate is to make the building feel as home-like and welcoming as possible. Much of that inspiration will come from the landscapes and beauty of the north.

“I think it’s twice as important given that so many of the families are coming from the north and so a lot of the images are familiar to them and will remind them of home,” he explained.

The building itself which resembles more of a northern lodge style home, will feature natural stone and wood finishes, and no home would be complete without a fireplace.

“This idea that the fireplace is the heart of the home and the most welcoming part,” Hurd said.

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The Shipley family was invited to talk about their experience at Ronald McDonald House. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The future home of the building is located off 25th Street West and south of Victoria Hospital and the land itself was donated by Lake Country Co-op. The total cost is $8 million and thanks to a variety of contributions from the community such as the 4H charity steer, Summit Run, and donations from the RCMP and Co-op, roughly forty per cent has already been raised.

Tammy Forrester, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities, explained they will get shovels in the ground when they reach 80 per cent.

“And then it’s sort of really working with our architects and our construction team and obviously our gift in-kind donations that we know will come to the table in a little bit,” she said, adding construction will take about 18 months and they hope to be open by early to mid 2026.

“There’s lots of interest out there so I think if people know there is a bit of a timeline to actually get moving on the project, I think, hope, it will sort of spur people on to really consider what their contribution could look like,” Forrester said.

A similar project is being done in Regina and the total fundraising goal for the Miles to Go campaign is $22 million.

With respect to the question of why now, Forrester explained planning actually started in 2018, when a medical research team studied how much need there was across Canada, and found Ronald McDonald House was filling about 20 per cent.

“That all went back to our local chapter boards to say you you know is 20 per cent our mission or is more our mission,” she said, further discussions with the Sask. Health Authority revealed the growth and pressures happening at Victoria Hospital.

A look at the exterior of the building, (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Among those in attendance for Thursday’s event were the Shipley and Trudel familes in Prince Albert, who have both stayed the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon. Nathan and Ali Shipley’s son Miles was born at 30 weeks and was in the NICU for 54 days.

‘We can’t emphasize how huge RMH has impacted our family, filled the gaps and took away all the stress that was released,” he said, adding their stay truly felt like a home away from home.

Nathan also recalled how when they first showed up, exhausted and full of questions, there was a sign waiting for them that read “Welcome Home Shipley family.”

“The care and concern they showed our family was next level,” he said.

The Trudel family spent over 140 nights at the Ronald McDonald House homes in Saskatoon and Edmonton. Ivan Trudel noted everyday life doesn’t just stop because you have a medically-disabled child.

“Ronald McDonald House took away so many things for use to have to worry about, so many little things that you dont even think about, things that you are just so happy that you don’t have to think about, and for which we will be forever grateful,” he said..

Trudel added that today if his family was given the choice between staying at a fancy hotel, or staying at Ronald McDonald House, he would choose the latter.

As part of his presentation. Jason Hurd was also asked by a potential donor whether there would be a smudge room and whether they could input for the room designs. The answers to both questions was yes.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell